Avtovaz Lada 2108 (diecast 1:43, Saratov/ Agat)

This is Lada 2108. The model is made in The Soviet Union in scale 1:43. Everything opens.

The Vaz - 2108 was the first true Soviet production built front-wheel drive passenger car as the LuAZ-969V , which appeared in 1967 was really a utility vehicle. It was also the first domestic three-door hatchback, though the Moskvich based Izh 2125 Kombi was the first Soviet hatchback.

The 2108 was launched in 1984. Largely sold as Sputniks in the Soviet Union it was badged as the Lada Samara in most export markets. The family included saloon cars, three- and five-door hatchbacks, and also served as the basis for several limited production models. The 2108 was equipped with several types of engine, including those with an electronic fuel injection, as well as some fitted with a Wankel rotary type engine. From 1997 to 2005 the facelifted Samara-2 was produced. Officially, the production of the 2108 model was stopped in 2005, but the 2113, which replaced it was only a restyled version of this car and was produced until the Renault investments in VAZ and the restructuring of the product range with Renault/Dacia influenced vehicles like the Kalina and Granta. In total over 900,000 2108s, and its derivatives, were produced and many were exported in the earlier years of production. Exports to Western Europe and North America dried up in later years as the 2018 was not adapted to meet new emissions and crash testing standards.

Initially the Soviets were sceptical of the western trend for cars to be designed with front-wheel drive. This was partly due to the high engineering standards needed to make, and maintain, technologically complex components, such as angular velocity joints. They were also reluctant to invest in the cost of re-tooling for the new unibody structure that was needed to replace the 2107 whose origins went back to the Fiat 124 launched in 1966. However, in 1981 it was announced that the next five year plan would include the introduction of an entirely new front wheel drive car.

It is curious that the name “Samara” was originally intended for the western market, and the name “Sputnik” was invented for the domestic market. In practice often even domestic market models ended up with Samara name plates. For the Soviet domestic automotive industry, the project developed at a very fast pace. In 1975 permission to begin development was given and by 1978 the first prototype was ready. By 1984 the car was put into mass production. It is said that when the prototype was completed the engine would not start and it was a couple of days before it was running properly. Surprising, as the engine itself was not new technology. Although touted as a successful Soviet development, consultants from Fiat of Italy and Porsche of Germany were also heavily involved in the development.

Finally, in 1984, a pilot batch of cars was produced. Za Rulem magazine
covered this event in detail on its pages:

“… Actually, the VAZ 2108 is not just a new car, but the first model
of a family of cars that is fundamentally new in design. When the
terms of reference were approved in 1978, preference was given to the
layout with front drive wheels…

… As comprehensive tests and operation in different climatic and
road conditions have shown, VAZ 2108 not only sharply differs in its
consumer qualities from other cars common in our country. It is not
inferior to the best foreign counterparts of its class. The car is
well adapted for operation in our country and in these conditions, we
can safely say, it surpasses foreign models…”

In addition to foreign consultants, foreign engineering firms were also involved supplying parts that the Soviets were not yet able to produce. High expectations for export sales existed and the Soviets did not wish to lose face so considerable investment was made. However, whilst the design underpinnings and technology was built with the active involvement of Western consultants, the rather bland styling was done by the Soviet team at AvtoVaz. The Soviets even turned down the opportunity to use some Porsche badging on the vehicles, something SEAT later used effectively on their first Ibiza models which Porsche provided engineering consultancy for.

Initially, the range was only supposed to have two body types, a three- and a five-door hatchback. It was to use three engines of 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 litres. However, it soon became clear that there was demand for a ‘three box’ saloon so one was developed,

In 1990, at the Brussels Motor Show, Scaldia – Volga, a major importer r of Soviet cars in Europe, presented a stylish convertible Lada Natasha prepared for small-scale production. These were made in small batches in Brussels, and later in Bratislava and Prague, Most were exported to France and Spain, where these cars were successful due to low prices under-cutting the competition. Further variations on the Lada Samara were produced for Western markets including the re-styled Lada 2108 Carlota with a German made body kit and a “charged” Lada Samara RSI with body kit and a Mangoletti Tuning developed “racing” injection system with a turbo 1600 cc engine tuned to either 100 or 130 hp. Other specials included the Norwegian Lada Konelia which again had a body kit applied. By the early nineties exports of the 2108 were in sharp decline. Exports to countries outside the old Comecon area practically ceased. A combination of failure to meet new construction standards, dating styling and engines, and the competition from the new South Korean producers all contributed to this.

In 2004, the Lada-113 replaced the VAZ 2108 in production. Though this was really only a re-styling of the Samara and it never reached export markets. Several sporting vehciles were created based on the 2108. These include the Lada Eva, Lada Samara T3, and Vaz 2108 Rally 4×4.

The first such car was the VAZ 2108-Rally, created in the Office of the Chief Designer of VAZ. Basically, it had a converted body, into which a 150-horsepower 16-valve engine was installed, driving the rear wheels. Later, an all-wheel drive modification: the VAZ-2108-Rally 4×4 was created, and in 1987 a super-powerful Eva was built in Vilnius though the car was basically a mid-engined special using only minimal elements of the Samara as styling features.

By the early 1990s internal frictions within the Soviet Union meant that old partnerships between VAZ and other Soviet bloc companies were beginning to decline. VAZ continued to enter the Dakar Rally and other African Rallies as publicity for the toughness of their products, but they had less and less involvement in preparing the cars. By the time the Samara T3 rally car was competing it was based on a space frame created outside the USSR and was fitted with a 3.6 litre Porsche boxer engine mounted in the middle of the car. The lightweight alloy body was made in the USSR by Tupolev, the Soviet aircraft producer. It enjoyed some success in the gruelling Rallies but by this point the value of the publicity was becoming limited as the cars were now becoming dated on western markets, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union was only a short while away.